Melvin l



.M. L. STONE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION men APR. 5. 1920.

Patented Feb. 22, 192i.

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my hllllflrui I IH ll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVIN I:- STONE, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR '10 DRAI'ER CORPORA- TION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, .A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed April 5, 1920. Serial No. 371,801.

Lawrence, county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mecha nisms for looms, through the agency of which replenishment of filling is effected when that in the shuttle becomes substantially exhausted, and prior to complete exhaustion.

The feeler mechanism of the present invention is of that general type wherein there is an impinging and a penetrating feeler portion. The feeler has projecting therefrom a spring which constitutes the impinging element, and which is elongated in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward pressure exerted upon the spring on each detecting beat when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle. The penetrating portion is constituted as a finger or fingers which project from the feelerapproximately to the same extent as the im-- pinging surface of the spring, so that on each detecting beat, when a working supply of filling is present, the penetrating portion or finger will enter the mass of filling and permit the advancing filling to engage the impinging spring and elongate it. When, however, the filling has become substant ally exhausted on a detecting beat, the penetrating portion or finger will engage the surface of the bobbin and consequently the advancing lay will not effect functional impingement of the filling or filling carrier against the spring to elongate it. Advantage is taken of this condition of affairs to effect replenishment of filling in the shuttle when the impinging spring fails to be elongated by the frontward pressure on a detecting beat.

The impinging spring and the penetrating finger or fingers constitute the tip portion of the feeler, and, in the present invention, the impinging'spring is preferably of the leaf character having a bend which projects rearwardly from the feeler. One portion of the leaf spring is secured to the end of the feeler, and the other portions of the spring are permitted to move in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the bend in the spring is deflected by frontward pressure upon 1t. The spring is operatively related to a controller which, when the impinging spring fails to be elongated in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, effects replenishment of filling through a train of mecha- IllSIIl.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a'plan view showing the action of the feeler mechanism when, on a detecting beat, a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle;

Fig. 2 is a similar View, showing the action of the feeler mechanism when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat;

may be effected in various ways, but in the present instance of the invention, the feeler itself is mounted for reciprocating movement in a feeler stand, and carries an actuator which, when'the filling is substantially exhausted, is placed in a position to move a train of mechanism; as the feeler moves frontwardly, to effect replenishment of filling. i.

The feeler stand 1 may be appropriately secured to the loom frame or bracket connected thereto, as is usual, by means of the securing screws 2 which pass through a slot 3 formed in a flanged portion of the feeler stand. The feeler stand 1 has mounted thereon for reciprocating movement toward and from the front of the loom, the feeler 4,

the front portion of which is formed as a stem or rod '5 which is surrounded by a spring 6 within the feeler stand, one end of the spring resting upon a shouldered portion 7 of the feeler and the other end 'of the spring against the inner surface 8 of the feeler stand, the construction being such that the spring 6 normally holds the feeler in its rearward feeling position and returns it to having been diswith a fan-tail end 11 which at times may be 7 intersection with the transmitter 12 as the feeler moves frontwardly. The transmitter 12 is guided in its movement by the guide opening 14 formed as a part of or connected to the feeler stand.

Adjustably connected to the rearward end portion of the actuator 9 a short distance above its pivotal connection 10 with the feeler, isa roller 15 mounted upon an adjusting screw 16 which may be held in adjusted position by a set nut 17.

i The tip of the feeler 4 is formed of an impinging and a penetrating portion. The impinging portion in the present instance comprises a spring 18 having a bend or bulge 19. The spring 18 is secured to the end of the feeler preferably at one end ofthe spring, and its other end is permitted movement longitudinally of the bobbin by the frontward pressure upon the bend 19 on a detecting beat. As shown, the end 20 of the impinging spring 18 is secured to the feeler by a pin 21 which passes through the end of the spring and has a pointed projecting end portion 22 which constitutes one element of the penetrating portion of the feeler. The

spring 18 is provided with a slot 23 at the opposite side of the bend 19 through wh ch passes the 13111 29: which, like the pin 21, is provided with a pointed exposed portion 25 for penetrating the filling when a working supply is present on a detecting beat. The free end portion of the spring 18 is preferably deflected frontwardly as indicated in Fig. 3, and is there operatively associated with a controller 26 which, in the present instance, is formed as a lever pivoted at 27 to the feeler 4, and having a frontwardly-extending arm 28 provided with a cam portion 29. Therear'end portion of the controller 26: may conveniently be passed through an openingon the free end of the spring 18, the constructionbeing such that when the spring 18 is elongated by front ward pressure of a working supply of filling upon the bend 19 thereof, the controller 26 will bemoved about its pivotal support .27 to throw the cam 29 from under the roller 15 connected to the actuator, to thereby permit the yielding pin. 13 to raise the fan tail 2 end of the actuator into inoperative relation with respect to the transmitter 12. During such elongation of the springby the frontward pressure of the bend 19 the slotted When on a detecting beat, a working supply of filling is present in the'shuttle, the penetrating finger or fingers of which in the present instance there are two, will sink into the mass of filling and permit the fr0ntward movement of the filling to impinge upon the bend 19 of the spring and elongate the latter, thereby effecting movement of the actuator into its inoperative'position. \Vhen, however, the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the ends of the penetrating finger or fingers will meet the surface of the bobbin and move the feeler 'l'rontwardly, so thatthe bend 19 of the impinging spring is no longer subjected tothe deflecting movement by the frontward pressure of the filling, and the spring remains substantially in fixed position'relative to the end of the feeler. Under these conditions, the cam 29 will not be moved from under the roller of the actuator, and the fan-tail end 11 of the actuator will travel front-' wardly in a path to intercept the transmit, ter 12 and effect replenishment of filling.

In the present instance of the invention,

the penetratingtip' portion of the feeler is shown as formed of two pins, having conically-extending end portions which project rearwardly from the'end of the feeler, substantially the same distance as thebend 19 of the spring, but it will be apparent, of course, thatthe number of penetrating fingers may be variedand also'that'the character of the bend 19in the spring'may be changed, the essentials being that when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, the penetrating port-ionof the feeler tip will sink into the filling and the bend of the spring will receive the frontward impulse of the filling and cause it to be elongated sufiiciently, .as'indicated in 'Fig. 1. When, however, the-filling is sufiiciently exhausted on a detecting beat,.the end or ends of the penetrating fingers will cause. front ward movement of, the feeler- 4: without effecting deflection of the-spring by the frontward The bobbin 30 maybe of usual construe I tion, provided with the head 31.' and with the usual bobbin-holding. reins, but since these features form no essential part ofthe present invention, a'further illustration or descriptionthereo'f is unnecessary.

'VVhat is claimed is... l i

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having a spring provided with a bend extending rcarwardly, a penetrating finger extending rearwardly from the feeler to penetrate the filling on a detecting beatfand permit the filling to exert frontward'pressure upon the bend of the spring to elongate the spring unti-l'substantial exhaustionof filling, and means for effecting replenishment of. fillingwhen the 130,

6 5 pinging spring secured to the end of the feeler vided with a bend extending rearwardly and secured to the feeler at one side of the bend, a penetrating finger extending rearwardly from the feeler to penetrate the filling on a detecting beat and permit the filling to exert frontward pressure upon the bend of the spring to elongate the spring, until substantial exhaustion of filling, and means for efiecting replenishment of filling when the spring fails to be elongated on a detecting beat.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, an impinging spring having a rearwardly extending bend which is adapted to be deflected frontwardly to cause elongation of the spring by the frontward pressure of the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof on a detecting beat,

and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the bend in the spring fails to be deflected frontwardly.

4.. In a feeler mechanism for looms,the combination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, and having a penetrating end portion to sink into the filling when a working supply is present on a detecting beat, and a spring impinging end portion which is elongated in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward pressure when the penetrating portion sinks into the filling, and means for eifecting replenishment of filling when the spring impinging portion fails to be elongated on a detecting beat.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted formovement toward and from the front of the loom, an impinging spring and a penetrating finger mounted on the feeler and extending rearwardly therefrom to efiect elongation of the impinging spring by the frontward pressure on a detecting beat until the filling is substantially exhausted, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the impinging spring fails to be elongated on a detecting beat.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of afeeler, an impinging spring carried by the feeler and having a bend to receive the impact of the filling on a detecting beat, a penetrating finger mounted on the feeler to sink into the filling and permit the spring to receive the impact thereof and be elongated thereby until the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and means for efi'ecting replenishment of filling when the spring fails to be elongated.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms. the com bination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, an imand adapted to be elongated in the direction of the longitudinal dimension of the shuttle by the frontward pressure on a detecting beat until the filling is substantially exhausted, a penetrating finger secured to the feeler and which engages the bobbin and relieves the spring of the elon ating pressure when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a spring secured at one end to the end of the feeler and having a bend to receive the impact of the filling on a detecting beat and to be deflected thereby, a penetrating finger secured to the feeler and which engages the bobbin and relieves the bend of the s ring from the deflecting pressure when lling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a spring secured at one end to the end of the feeler and having a bend to receive the impact of the filling on a detecting beat and to be deflected thereby, a penetrating finger secured to the feeler and which engages the bobbin and relieves the bend of the spring from the deflecting pressure when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and a controller which is moved by the spring and causes replenishment of filling when the bend of the spring fails to be deflected on a detecting beat.

10. A feeler provided with a penetrating finger t enter the filling on a detecting beat and also having secured to its rear end a spring provided with an impinging bend which receives the impact of the filling and effects elongation of the spring when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat. V

11. A feeler provided with a penetrating finger to enter the filling on a detecting beat and also having secured to its rear end a spring provided with an impinging bend which extends rearwardly from the end of the feeler and by the impactof the filling when a working supply is present on a detecting beat efi'ects elongation of the spring.

12. In. a feeler mechanism for looms, a feeler having a tip formed of a leaf spring provided with a bend between its ends, means for securing one endof the leaf spring to the feeler, means for guiding the other end of the spring in its movement due to deflection of the bend by frontward pressure, and a penetrating finger extending rearwardly.

MELVIN L. STONE. 

